I have great news! This morning my white chick reappeared! Dad went to the feed store and when he came back it was walking around the brooder, trying to figure out how to get back in. We caught it pretty quickly and it wasn't hurt or anything.

I candled last night and all 10 of the eggs I have left are developing! I'm so Happy.

Raz, great news on the little chick. Guess it was pretty smart, trying to get back into the brooder. Sounds like you are having great news all around..all 10 eggs viable..that's great!

Wonderful family, very understanding husband when it comes to chickens, dogs, birds, one big Golden Retriever, and thankful to the Lord for all!

Gosh, I have been trying to keep up with everything. I entered a bunch of contest. Was there a grumpy bird contest or did I just make that up?

LOL I thought there was one for fluffy chicken butts too, but I must've imagined that!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razadia

I have great news! This morning my white chick reappeared! Dad went to the feed store and when he came back it was walking around the brooder, trying to figure out how to get back in. We caught it pretty quickly and it wasn't hurt or anything.

I candled last night and all 10 of the eggs I have left are developing! I'm so Happy.

Yay! On both accounts :) I tried candling mine 2 days ago, but I can't see anything in them anymore :( I'm hoping that means they've just grown that big already.

I have great news! This morning my white chick reappeared! Dad went to the feed store and when he came back it was walking around the brooder, trying to figure out how to get back in. We caught it pretty quickly and it wasn't hurt or anything.

I candled last night and all 10 of the eggs I have left are developing! I'm so Happy.

That's awesome! I've had renegades loose in the basement before and my cats always tell me where they are. They don't hurt them or anything, they just "point"

Quote:

Originally Posted by gamebirdsonly

Just went checked my incubator and fan died and temps only reading 59 at where eggs were.

The wafer is still working there is heat at the top. I have sportsman but fan is not blowing warm air around and so only the top is heated where the water goes.

So looks like I wont be having a hatch. I only had 7 eggs that were growing and they were my Bantam welsummers.

now I just need to figure how to get the fan fixed. I am dumb when comes to fixing things.

You could still be OK depending on how long it was that low. We lost power for about 5 hours and the temp got down to about 80 but I didn't lose any. Don't give up yet!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brechin

They are currently learning to talk, but I don't think they will do twin speak. They are fraternal and are more like siblings that were born close in age. They don't really like each other the way I see other identical twins do, they just sort grow up knowing there is someone else to compete with or toys.

I guess it depends on their personalities. My nieces look a lot alike but supposedly they aren't identical either.

Chickens are very addicting , everyone here is a chicken addict , people may look at you weird when you tell them, but its way better to be addicted to chickens then all the other stuff out there.............

Chickens are very addicting , everyone here is a chicken addict , people may look at you weird when you tell them, but its way better to be addicted to chickens then all the other stuff out there.............

I really want to take the plunge with the cabinet incubator, but would like opinions from people who have had them...any opinions? Sportsman vs. Dickey?

I am also thinking of expanding past the two styrofoam hovabators I have now. I would be interested in the feedback/discussion.

I don't have either of these......I have an old Farm Master cabinet incubator......but I know kathyinmo has a Sportsman and loves it......and she hatches a lot, I mean, A LOT, of eggs, so she should know. Maybe someone else will chime in here with other opinions..........

Quote:

Originally Posted by FeyRaine

Ignoring the current ice storm, & the don't count them b/f they hatch rule,

I've gone & invited a few friends to come over on NYD to stare at the incubator window,

I had my whole coop (about 40 birds) out ranging the weekend before last . I only let them out when I am going to be out, because there are so many fox around. They put themselves back in to roost about 4:00 when it starts to get dark. When I'm finished with my chores, I lock them up. I leave for work in the dark and get home in the dark, but Monday night I noticed some footprints in the thin layer of snow we had. Thought maybe a wild turkey had come to check out the run. The next night, doing chores, I noticed more footprints - "Awfully small turkey," I even muttered out loud. On Wednesday night, there were lots of prints. So, I took a walk around the coop, following them. And there, on a ledge above the door where I let them out, was a blue Ameracauna roosting alone, not able to get in. I scooped her up, thinking she must be both hungry and thirsty (although she apparently meandered over to a neighbor's bird feeder and walked up and down the road, according to my neighbor who works nights and is home during the day - she said there were chicken footprints all over). She nestled back onto the roost next to friends and went back to sleep.

This hen just didn't get the night's out call on Sunday and stayed out late. I am so grateful that a fox didn't get her. Today, in this morning's snow, there were fox tracks around the coop. So, I completely understand the elation one feels when the prodigal daughter comes home.

Well, I mixed up my very first batch of fermented feed today. I hope it will be edible tomorrow, 'cause I can't wait to feed it to the chickens! So glad I learned about that, thanks everyone!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattfulleroc

I was worried because my main thermometer 's batteries died last night...It runs on a 9 volt and so I had to wait until this morning to get a new one....

I just candled...All 20 of my eggs have movement!!! I am so excited!!!

Yaaay, congratulations

Quote:

Originally Posted by missydcpc

Is that why they act so silly? Cool pre-marinated chickens! I think I've come up with a new marketing scheme!

Pre-marinated chickens!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brookhavens

I like the regular ones because you can calibrate them. I was using a digital one I bought at Walmart and there is no way to calibrate the thermometer part. When I placed a regular, calibrated thermometer in with the digital one, the reading on the digital was off by 3 degrees. On my glass thermometer I just took a fine point Sharpie and marked where the temp should be. That way it was just a quick glance and I knew if the temp was right or not.

That's a great idea with the sharpie, how do you calibrate one of those liquid types of thermometers?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gamebirdsonly

Just went checked my incubator and fan died and temps only reading 59 at where eggs were.

The wafer is still working there is heat at the top. I have sportsman but fan is not blowing warm air around and so only the top is heated where the water goes.

So looks like I wont be having a hatch. I only had 7 eggs that were growing and they were my Bantam welsummers.

now I just need to figure how to get the fan fixed. I am dumb when comes to fixing things.

I sure hope you checked those eggs, they can take an awful lot of abuse! ???

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bettacreek

Nobody is enjoying lock up today, but not a single one of them tried to escape today! Still no cornish cross hennie. roads are still awful. The bird room had 2ft drift across the door. I shoveled just enough away to wedge meself through the door. The inmates then came over and shoveled the rest of the doorway out for us. The driveway was plowed a few times between yesterday and today but those drifts have some spots filled back in. I keep wanting to put my eggs in lock-down already!
I did wear two coats today, under orders from G, I had to wear his huge heavy coat plus my regular winter coat underneath. Plus my fleece hunting mask, lol. I might've looked like a goof, but I stayed warm!

G is a good man (I'm such a mother hen!) LOL Take care of yourself!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FeyRaine

Ignoring the current ice storm, & the don't count them b/f they hatch rule,

I've gone & invited a few friends to come over on NYD to stare at the incubator window,

That sounds like fun. I don't want to clean house, so I won't be inviting anyone over that isn't family but if my family wants to come watch a hatch, they're welcome to it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cynthia12

I have one that is able to be calibrated..but..I also have the walmart kind..I just use the walmart kind. I am not bragging by no means, but it's just that I have hatched for so many years, that I can pretty much go by touching. I know "how" I like my eggs to feel. When I go to turn, I am thinking, this is just right. Sometimes, oh, too warm, or oh, needs to be up a bit, it's too cool. I know, some are going to say..what? I sound like Goldilocks in the three bears.

I do put the thermometers in the bator, kind of go with that once I feel how they are, and keep the temp where it is reading at the time..works pretty good. Humidity. I don't go real high with that anyway, so if it is reading 60 to 62, I know I'm close enough. Just want to give all of those out there that are worrying, don't worry too much, you are probably doing better than you think. Keep the thermostat as close as to what your bator suggests. Have fun!

I'm just one that hasn't worried to much about a couple of degrees difference in the bator throughout the day. I've had some great hatches, I've had some bad, the bad ones were usually shipped ones that took too long to get here. I find that past three days, I could be in trouble having having a decent hatch. Also, shipping in the cold..worse than shipping in the warm. Cold temps on those eggs, then they sit in a P.O. ... warm up, sweat/weep..not a good thing. Could also be bad in real warm temps. Hot outside, then sit in air condition. Shipped eggs are a gamble for sure. And it isn't just because of handling. But oh yeah, that counts too.

Doesn't sound weird, I've been noticing their temps when I take them out to candle, and think I can tell when it's a bit hot or cold too. Though I am such a newb that I wouldn't rely on it. But after all, how does a hen do it? LOL. No, I can see an old-timer being able to do that (old time chicken hatcher, not old, LOL)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razadia

I have great news! This morning my white chick reappeared! Dad went to the feed store and when he came back it was walking around the brooder, trying to figure out how to get back in. We caught it pretty quickly and it wasn't hurt or anything.

I candled last night and all 10 of the eggs I have left are developing! I'm so Happy.

Awesome Razadia, she got hungry enough to come out of hiding is all. Probably was scared and hiding somewhere semi warm but hunger finally got to her :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kismet

I had my whole coop (about 40 birds) out ranging the weekend before last . I only let them out when I am going to be out, because there are so many fox around. They put themselves back in to roost about 4:00 when it starts to get dark. When I'm finished with my chores, I lock them up. I leave for work in the dark and get home in the dark, but Monday night I noticed some footprints in the thin layer of snow we had. Thought maybe a wild turkey had come to check out the run. The next night, doing chores, I noticed more footprints - "Awfully small turkey," I even muttered out loud. On Wednesday night, there were lots of prints. So, I took a walk around the coop, following them. And there, on a ledge above the door where I let them out, was a blue Ameracauna roosting alone, not able to get in. I scooped her up, thinking she must be both hungry and thirsty (although she apparently meandered over to a neighbor's bird feeder and walked up and down the road, according to my neighbor who works nights and is home during the day - she said there were chicken footprints all over). She nestled back onto the roost next to friends and went back to sleep.

This hen just didn't get the night's out call on Sunday and stayed out late. I am so grateful that a fox didn't get her. Today, in this morning's snow, there were fox tracks around the coop. So, I completely understand the elation one feels when the prodigal daughter comes home.

Ignoring the current ice storm, & the don't count them b/f they hatch rule,
I've gone & invited a few friends to come over on NYD to stare at the incubator window,
eat pot luck, sip hot tea, have a seed swap & talk about our 2013 diy project plans.